Business and Information Technology Usage in Midwestern Veterinary Practices

Executive Summary

This paper reports on the empirical investigation of computer and business technology use in Midwestern veterinary clinics. The purpose of this study is to assess veterinary practices regarding the success of information systems and to use this assessment to draw inferences regarding future IT investment in such practices. By measuring the end user satisfaction and using this as a surrogate measure of success, and then correlating this with specific aspects of technology use, the authors believe drawing inferences regarding IT practices is possible. This may provide current and future practitioners a rudimentary foundation for deciding not just whether to include computers in the practice, but what hardware and software combinations to choose.